Smolski presented his a symphonic metal band called Almanac in 2015. Their debut album, Tsar, was released on 18 March 2016. Kingslayer was released on 24 November 2017.

Victor Dmitriyevich Smolski (Russian: Виктор Дмитриевич Смольский , Belarusian: Віктар Дзмітрыевіч Смольскі , born 1 February 1969) is a musician, producer, composer, teacher, author of one of the most successful German guitar learning DVDs, School of Metal. He was a member of the German heavy metal band Rage, from 1999 until 2015. The guitarist for the metal bands Almanac, Mind Odyssey and Lingua Mortis Orchestra (LMO). Jury member for several international music competitions. Worldwide representative and co-developer for companies in the music industry, such as Yamaha, ENGL, Shure, Cordial, Thomastik-Infeld, etc.